Sponsors (43)
Introduced March 25, 2026 by Gwendolynne S. Moore · Last progress March 25, 2026
The bill aims to expand and diversify the perinatal workforce and improve culturally competent, year-long postpartum supports—especially for underserved communities—but does so with modest funding, non‑binding guidance, and implementation complexity that could leave benefits uneven and impose costs and administrative burdens on states, providers, and small training programs.
Pregnant and postpartum people—especially in rural and underserved communities—are likely to see improved access to perinatal clinicians because the bill expands training slots, scholarships, and targeted recruitment to Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Pregnant and postpartum people and Medicaid beneficiaries gain broader, clearer eligibility for maternity supports because the bill formally recognizes a range of maternity/perinatal roles (doulas, lactation consultants, midwives, perinatal health workers) and defines 'postpartum' as up to 12 months.
Women from racial and ethnic minority groups are more likely to get culturally and linguistically congruent, less discriminatory care because the bill prioritizes recruiting diverse students/faculty, requires bias and racism training, and supports culturally tailored, community-based workers.
Many Americans in need may still lack improved access because authorized funding levels are modest and are likely insufficient to eliminate nationwide perinatal workforce shortages.
Benefits are likely to be uneven across the country because guidance and illustrative standards are non-binding or ambiguous, accreditation criteria and state implementation can vary, and GAO reporting does not compel state action.
States, hospitals, and insurers may face new administrative and fiscal costs—such as recruiting/training staff, reconfiguring care teams, accrediting doulas, and setting up Medicaid reimbursement pathways—which could require state budget adjustments or federal offsets.
Based on analysis of 6 sections of legislative text.
Authorizes HHS grant programs, guidance, studies, and GAO reports to grow and diversify the perinatal workforce, fund scholarships, and improve culturally congruent maternal care.
Creates federal programs, studies, and guidance to grow, diversify, and train the perinatal workforce and to improve respectful, culturally and linguistically congruent maternity care. It authorizes competitive grants and scholarships for midwifery, perinatal health workers, physician assistants, and maternal-focused nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists; directs federal studies and guidance from HHS/NIH; requires GAO reports on barriers and disparities; and defines key terms such as "maternity care provider" and "perinatal health worker." Funding authorizations of $15 million annually are provided for two grant programs for FY2027–FY2031, with reporting, prioritization for underserved areas, and emphasis on bias/racism training in curricula.